REINVENTION FOR IMPACT
2024
Welcome Letter
Last fall, the Justice and Joy National Collaborative team was galvanized; imagining the possibility of a young people-led, more liberated, and democratic future. If you are reading this, you likely are in alignment with that vision for our collective futures. In early 2024 many of us never imagined what would await us as we entered 2025. Today, we hope you are caring for yourselves, your loved ones, finding community, grieving as is necessary, and holding space for joy, rest, laughter, and nourishment. In this “impact” report, we will recap the reinvention of this 142-year old advocacy organization – what brought us to this moment, how it informs our work going forward and share critical recent work.
It is impossible to tell our story of the past year without acknowledging the social, political, philanthropic, and economic shift away from prioritizing girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people of color. The abandonment of diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives; the banning of books and culturally-responsive curricula; xenophobia and vitriol against immigrant communities; and virulent anti-trans efforts sweeping the nation had irrevocable repercussions on our community of organizations, partners, and young people working toward safe and just futures. Just a few years ago, the girls of color movement went from the margin to center, but the recent abandonment of their wisdom, power, and expertise in leading us to a better place could potentially set us back for generations to come. Indeed, many of these organizations have shuttered. It bears repeating – there is no justice without gender justice and racial justice. There is no freedom without reproductive freedom.
You might say 2024 was the year we made lemon souffle out of lemons when, due to an unexpected and devastating loss of committed multi-year major funding, we were forced to reduce our staff by fifty percent. Our response was and is to be evermore bold, and unapologetic, and to respond to each crisis by finding the opportunity hidden below the surface – after the Dobbs v. Jackson decision we launched the Reproductive Freedom Fund; in the face of the looming election we started our Fixing Democracy Initiative and the Rapid Response Fund; and we doubled down on youth-led intergenerational activism through these projects, fellowships, organizing with young people across the country, and conducting critical participatory action research to fill gaps in data.
Movements have always been fueled by young people of color; a likely reason they have been historically under-resourced and made invisible by the very systems and structures that create the harm they fight against.
In Solidarity,
Jeannette Pai-Espinosa
President
Linda Lausell Bryant
Board Chair
Our promise is to continue the fight for justice and to claim each moment of joy despite the forces that would rob us of them.
We believe passionately that when we link arms across generations, and across issue areas, we are unstoppable –together we can achieve and sustain our collective freedom.
If you believe in our approach and stand with us, we invite you to join us and/or make a donation to support our sustainability. Thank you for reading, for being here, for showing up.
From The National Crittenton Foundation to
CHANGING WITH THE TIMES
In 2007 The National Crittenton Foundation returned to the advocacy work we were once known for. We began advocating not only for young mothers, but also for girls and young women who were system-impacted. Alongside young mothers, girls, and young women, Crittenton family of agency members, and partners, we spoke our truths, experiences and expertise at briefings, legislative committee meetings, stakeholder meetings, and conferences. We connected and collaborated with individuals and organizations aligned with our vision to strengthen our work and the movement to ensure girls, young women and gender-expansive young people could live free and unapologetic lives without fear of violence and/or injustice.
In spring 2023, after 140 years of operation using some form of National Crittenton as our “doing business as” (DBA) name, we changed it to the Justice + Joy National Collaborative. Still rooted in the founding values set forth by our founders Mr. Charles Crittenton and Dr. Kate Waller Barrett, this change was made as a more accurate reflection of our current identity as an intersectional, intergenerational organization, and our role within the ecosystem of organizations advancing gender and racial/ethnic justice focusing on girls, young women and gender expansive young people of color.
Grounded in Our Principles but Evolving with the Times
What has not changed over the course of our 142–year history is our commitment to founding principles as set out by our founders:
1. National advocacy must be rooted in what is happening in local communities across the country.
2. We are stronger together – organize, collaborate, partner because collective impact is the key to lasting change.
3. Those with lived expertise know what they need and must be leaders and partners advancing change.
In fact, we have doubled down on and centered them in our reinvention process and today, all of our work is led by those with lived expertise and with our partners, from 45+ states, DC and Puerto Rico. However, the harsh reality is that while many things have changed since our founding, fundamentally, what drives the most marginalized girls and gender expansive young people to seek help has not changed.
Partnership: Building and Fostering Collective Power and Intergenerational Activism
We are a national advocacy organization that takes a place-based approach, which means core to everything we do is organizing – connecting local and state leaders (including young people) and partners to each other and then to national partners to strengthen collective impact on a wide range of intersectional issues. This work centers the leadership of girls, young women and gender expansive young people of color, centering those impacted by public systems and chronic generational adversity.
Our Work
CHANNELING RAGE INTO ACTION
Today as a gender and racial justice nonprofit – we refuse to accept the centuries old lack of change in the epidemic of gender-based, exploitation, neglect, oppression and more against girls and gender expansive young people of color. We are dedicated to engaging in advocacy, organizing and research with and for them so they can live unapologetically without fear of violence or injustice. Each and every day we channel our rage into action through our work, samples of which we share with you in this report.
Fixing Democracy Initiative
Igniting Civic Engagement and Intergenerational Activism
Spurred by the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, Justice + Joy launched its Fixing Democracy Initiative working with young leaders, HIT Strategies, and Lake Research Partners. Working with a national group of intersectional Gen Z leaders, Justice + Joy will galvanize voter participation and create a long-term civic engagement effort among this too often invisible but incredibly powerful group of young voters.
Reflections from our Participants...
Envisioning New Structures (ENS) Fellowship
Research Fellows Proposing Structures and Systems for Healing and Holistic Well-being In Their Communities To Thrive
The Envisioning New Structures (ENS) Fellowship centered the leadership and advocacy of girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people of color. ENS Fellows committed to advancing safety and healing in their communities through research and advocacy, drawing from their lived experiences to reimagine systems that prioritize their well-being and futures. Through their research they are offering valuable insights for educators, policymakers, and community leaders to create structures that genuinely support their healing and holistic well-being.
Reflections from participants…
“To me, being a Black woman using research as a tool for change means reclaiming our narratives, amplifying our voices, and ensuring that our lived experiences shape the policies and systems that impact us. This work has reinforced my belief in the power of knowledge and education to drive healing and transformation, particularly for Black girls and gender-expansive youth who deserve spaces that nurture their well-being.”
“My experience in the ENS Fellowship has been nothing short of amazing. Since the beginning, we have created a space of belonging. Whether in person or on Zoom, the fellowship has allowed me to reflect on the importance of community. It has been such a fantastic joy to learn about one another and to learn from each other as well! This fellowship has allowed me to grow professionally and also personally. A space where I can listen and be heard and where our voices are taken seriously.”
“Being a Black girl using research as a tool for change means using the power of storytelling and data to uplift my community and challenge societal structures that weren’t built for us to thrive. Now more than ever, highlighting my lived experiences showcases that I am not a D.E.I. candidate, but an individual worthy of recognition and respect. Being involved in research for the past three years has shaped the future I plan for myself. I want to make a difference in all the spaces I enter; having a research background will allow me to educate others and spotlight stories that need to be heard.”
“The JJNC fellowship has given me a network of support as a young woman of color to rely on and a community of strong emerging leaders who are just as passionate about pushing for the accessibility of mental health resources and continued research for girls and gender-expansive youth of color.”
Reproductive Justice
Fighting for Reproductive Justice: Healthcare and Bodily Autonomy
Immediately following the overturn of Roe v. Wade, and thanks to the Hearthland Foundation we launched the Reproductive Freedom Fund to provide resources and support needed to access reproductive gender affirming healthcare.
We released the In Our Words: The Impact of the Overturning of Roe v. Wade on Girls, Young Women, and Gender-Expansive Young People of Color report that curated the narratives of young mothers and pregnant/parenting young people in hopes to inform policies and systems that provide the supports and services young families need in order to thrive.
- 120 girls, young women, and gender-expansive young people of color in
14 states.
Reflections from Participants...
IMPACT National Advocacy Alliance
Organizing Young Mamas Nationally to Build Collective Power for Change
The IMPACT (Invincible Mamas Pushing for Action and Change Together) National Advocacy Alliance is a national alliance consciously centered on young mothers, birth givers, and their families to build collective power of young mamas who share the same passion and advocate for change, especially when it comes to broken systems and policies which affect young families and their communities.
District of Columbia & Puerto Rico
Activities:
- IMPACT Week of Action
- Hill Briefing in partnership with Senator Grassley’s Office
- IMPACT Post-election virtual summit for young moms
- Ongoing Learning Lofts
Rapid Response Fund
Providing Financial Resources to Mobilize Young People’s Civic Engagement
Providing Financial Resources to Mobilize Young People’s Civic Engagement
Justice + Joy’s Rapid Response Fund (RRF) was created in 2024 as a vehicle for putting resources in the hands of young people to galvanize their friends, families, and communities around compelling issues.
The RRF leadership team of young people launched the first use of the RRF as phase two of the Fixing Democracy Initiative to provide other young folks with the resources needed to mobilize Gen Z to think about what role they can play in leading long-term change. Stay tuned or connect with us as we roll out future opportunities through the fund.
Seventy-one microgrants of $50–$500 were provided hosting conversations about voting in their communities in the 27 states.
Some events that were funded:
Reflections from our Participants...
Reducing Risk for Girls In the Juvenile Justice System
Providing Training and Technical Assistance to Jurisdictions and Service Providing Organizations
- Number of TTA recipients: 43
- States where TTA recipients located: 18 and the District of Columbia
Examples of TTA provided:
- Webinars
- Evaluation and Data Collection
- Community Engagement
- Youth and Family Engagement
- Assessment and Trainings on gender-responsive trauma informed programming/approaches
Crittenton Family of Agencies
Continuing the Legacy of the Crittenton Social Welfare Movement
The 24 independent direct-service Crittenton family of agencies across the country provide programs and services specific to the communities they serve as the founders supported them to be. In partnership, the CFA’s provide on the ground experiences and together we identify and address and advocate for policies and programming that make it possible for individuals to thrive. Members of the family of agencies work collaboratively with each other and with Justice + Joy on national research, communication, and advocacy efforts designed to improve the well-being of girls, young women and gender-expansive young people of color through more effective policy and practices.
Collaborative activities:
- Implementation of ACEs survey
- Advocacy on the Families First Act
- Advocacy on current policies that disrupt the delivery of programs/services
Girls @ the Margin National Alliance
Convening and Collaborating with Community Based Organizations From Across the Country
Since 2010, Girls @ the Margin National Alliance has supported relationship building and collective action among partners focused on eradicating the oppressions experienced by cis and trans girls, and gender-expansive young people. G@TM continues to engage more than 150 partner organizations working in local, state, and national communities on monthly calls and through regular messaging and communication. Along with community building, monthly calls offer an opportunity to:
- Learn about innovative and effective programs
- Partner in resource and information sharing
- Engage in local, state, and federal policy updates
In Solidarity Conversations
Listening To The Expertise of Young People: From the In Solidarity Conversations to Power In Our Truths Reports
As follow-up to the In Solidarity Conversations, a survey research explored the key themes from the In Solidarity Conversations: effects of police violence, system racism and the pandemic on mental health, physical well-being and emotional resilience. Findings from the research led to the release of the 4-part report series, Power In Our Truths. This report series provided a deeper analysis and understanding of where many young folks are today.
In Solidarity Conversations:
- 15 virtual-regional and Tribal In Solidarity Conversations
- 33 states and the District of Columbia
- More than 380 girls and gender-expansive young people participation
Power In Our Truths Survey:
- 121 Survey Responses
- 15 States
Reflections from our Participants...
In Solidarity We Rise
Hosting In Solidarity We Rise Summit: Co-constructing a Movement for Social Transformation and Experiencing the Strength and Power of Being in Community
We continue to organize In Solidarity We Rise, a youth-led national summit for girls, young women, women, and gender-expansive people, including stakeholders to be part of the movement that will strengthen a gender-inclusive, inter-racial/ethnic, intergenerational ecosystem of individuals and organizations resulting in liberation, freedom, justice, and joy.
The event prioritizes the leadership and participation of young people 25 and under, with the goal of 60% of all participants and presenters being 25 or younger.
Summit Stats:
- 2017 and 2019 was held in person in Washington, DC in 2017, and in Atlanta, Georgia in 2019.
- Total attendees ISWR: 1250
- Number of states represented at ISWR: 50
- Number of Tribal nations represented: 14
- Number of total workshops presented by young people 25 and under: 67
In Solidarity We
Rise Videos:
Reflections from our Participants...
IN THE NEWS
We were featured in these key publications:
THE TEAM
Every member of our intergenerational team (ages 24 – 68) brings a unique perspective to our work and plays a key role at Justice + Joy. Our leadership and staff includes those whose life expertise bring a unique and deep understanding to our work. This diverse representation is at all levels of the organization.
